Warriors rookie Draymond Green earning more minutes

OAKLAND -- Rookie forward Draymond Green has won over coach Mark Jackson enough to work his way into the rotation.

Because of his versatility and basketball IQ, he has become one of Jackson's most trusted reserves. Green, who totaled 37 minutes the first seven games, has averaged 17.2 minutes over the past five games. During that stretch, he scored 29 points on 9-of-16 shooting, grabbed 21 rebounds and recorded five steals.

"I'm looking for everything from him," Jackson said of Green, whom the Warriors selected in the second round with the No. 35 pick. "I don't minimize him to just a defensive guy. He's a guy that can do everything on the court good. And can lead great. So I don't minimize him. He has the ability to make 3s, the ability to rebound, to defend, make plays."

It's not that Green, who played four years at Michigan State, is putting up great numbers. But when he is on the floor, you know it. He has made big shots. He has grabbed tough rebounds. He has played suffocating defense. And he does things that don't show up on the stat sheet and are barely noticeable -- making the extra pass, blocking out, rotating on time.

It is largely because of Green that second-year forward Jeremy Tyler scarcely can get off the bench. The Warriors are trying to fashion themselves as a tough, gritty team. Green has been a part of building that identity.

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"I'm shocked that the guy was on the (draft) board at 35," Jackson said. "I think you watch a guy for four years, then you forget what you witnessed by going through the draft process. Not the highest jumper. Not the most athletic. Not the most explosive. But he's a flat-out winner. He's having an impact on the game."

The Warriors not only spread good cheer for the holidays with their home victory over the Brooklyn Net on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, forward David Lee donated $25,000 to fund the City of Oakland's 21st Annual Thanksgiving Dinner. The event feeds about 2,000 of the less fortunate, including seniors, homeless people and disabled veterans.

"I have always been lucky enough to have Thanksgiving dinner with my family," Lee said. "It's always been something I have looked back on and had good memories of, and to allow other people to have that same joy is something that is really special, and I'm happy to do it."

Second-year guard Klay Thompson, partnering with the Good Tidings Foundation, took care of the Eastside College Preparatory School's girls basketball team. He picked up the students in a limousine and took them to a Target store in Redwood City to buy Thanksgiving dinner supplies.

He then surprised them with a trip to the Sports Authority to buy them basketball shoes.

"I love doing these types of events," Thompson said. "It is really important for me to be able to give back and support the community. It was so great to be able to spend time with the girls basketball team ... and get the chance to talk to them about my experiences on and off the court."

The Warriors are 7-0 when they outrebound their opponents, 0-5 when they don't.

Before Wednesday, Golden State had outscored opponents in the paint by at least 10 points for five consecutive games. The Nets outscored the Warriors in the paint 52-44, snapping that streak.

Over his past two games, point guard Stephen Curry has averaged 28 points, 6.5 assists and 6.0 rebounds.